Ronda is situated in the furthermost northwest tip of the province of Málaga,in a basin surrounded by mountains. The continuity and height of these mountains make the town inaccessible, which together with Ronda's climatological, hidrological and geological characteristics, has determined the area throughout its history.

Ronda, one of the oldest towns in Spain, has its origin in the prehistoric period. Amongst the most significant remains from this period we should draw attention to the Cave of the Pileta, true relic of Andalusian rural art, and the various groups of megalithic monuments,such as the Dolmen of the Poplar.

Scattered about the province, we can see a number of remains from the Roman period, the most important of which is the archeological site of the Roman town of Acinipo.

However, the most visible cultural heritage of Ronda and its surrounding area is Arab. Under the Muslims, Ronda became important as the capital of one of the five Kovas of Al-Andalus. With time, this culture impregnated our buildings, gastronomy, traditions, crop farming, etc.

After the conquest of the town by the Catholic Sovereigns in 1485 there was a new cultural and structural reorganization, although it was not until the 18th. century that the role of the town in the general context of Andalucia became clear. It was during this period that Ronda's most significant and emblematic monuments were built; the New Bridge and the Bull Ring.

It was during the 19th. century, without any doubt, that the romantic image of our town was forged; an image in which "bandoleros" and bullfighters were the favourites of the distinguished travellers, since they had become symbolic of our traditional culture- a culture which is, however, much wider and much more diverse than these pleasant cliches on which today's Ronda and its Serrania is based.